Source: Daily_Mail
GRAHAM POLL: Why it's time to follow the Aussie example to clamp down on the thugs and divers
Retrospective disciplinary action is a possibility this season after FIFA said that they will not stop the Australian federation from banning players who are caught diving to win penalties.[LNB] I would hope that this statement does not just cover diving as there are more serious offences missed. [LNB]Our own FA has always said that if a referee saw an incident then, due to FIFA legislation, they were powerless to act even in the most blatant of circumstances. [LNB] Stunned: James Collins is treated after being caught in the face by Miodrag Dzudovic[LNB] More from Graham Poll... GRAHAM POLL: There's nothing wrong with using your physical presence in the box, Arsene26/08/10 Graham Poll: Blatter must end farce and introduce goal-line technology 22/08/10 Graham Poll: Refs in the spotlight at the weekend... but who got it right?22/08/10 Graham Poll: Shut it, Steve! Why Bruce got it wrong over Cattermole16/08/10 Graham Poll: Cole deserved red but Koscielny should never have departed15/08/10 Graham Poll: How referees can learn from Holland's bully-boy tactics12/07/10 Graham Poll: Tetchy final made it impossible for referee Webb to shine11/07/10 Howard Webb: Made in England ... but he's schooled by Italian master ref08/07/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Think of Sheffield United's Chris Morgan fracturing the skull of Iain Hume with a sickening swing of his elbow. In that case two seasons ago the FA did not charge Morgan as referee Andy D'Urso had showed him a yellow card, suggesting that he had seen the incident. [LNB]That farcical situation could now be a thing of the past. Looking more recently there were two incidents in Euro 2012 qualifiers that should have resulted in red cards for violent conduct. [LNB] The first was in the England game when James Milner was flattened with a forearm smash by a Bulgarian opponent who was not even cautioned by Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai. [LNB]Earlier on Friday, Aston Villa defender James Collins was smashed in the face by the elbow of Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic. [LNB]These acts of violence must be wiped out because of the threat of serious injury and I would like to see UEFA set the example by suspending both players for at least three matches. [LNB]These acts of violence are relatively easy to determine when video replays are allowed to be used and referees certainly do not feel undermined when justice is done.[LNB]The game moves quickly and it is impossible for referees to detect everything. The issue that could come up once this retrospective charging takes place is that referees - when unsure - will do nothing and rely on the replays to do their jobs for them. In cases of violentconduct that would not be as damaging as it would be with diving. [LNB] Wild swing: Chris Morgan famously injured Iain Hume[LNB]Once an elbow has been thrown the injury is suffered irrespective of the arbiters action. However, a dive which is not detected can lead to a penalty and the only goal of the game. [LNB] Retrospective suspensions - two matches in Australia - are all well and good but the match result will stand and in effect the cheat will have prospered. [LNB]Still, one step at a time and this one, if adopted in England, is a move in the right direction. [LNB] Good week for...Martin Atkinson and Mark ClattenburgBad week for...John Toshack [LNB]The pair successfully handled tricky Euro 2012 qualifiers at the weekend. Atkinson had the Sweden v Hungary game, while Clattenburg oversaw the fascinating 4-4 draw between Portugal and Cyprus. Now it's time for Howard Webb to start his season.[LNB]Not only did the Wales manager watch his team lose in Montenegro but he ludicrously suggested that appointing a Greek referee was unfair. The two countries don't even share a border, not that it matters - trust the referee and UEFA in their appointment system.[LNB] [LNB]
